So, I'm curious, How do you start dating again as a single mother? I'm either working all day or being Mom. Does anyone have any advice? I could use it! Now that I feel ready I'm not even sure where to meet men in this new life.

Are you against the online dating sites? Maybe you can try that. Try and find someone with kids so they understand the demands of being a single parent.

I'm on match.com, but I'm in a pretty small town and single life sucks here. So the online thing is the only dating outlet I have right now. It's cool because you can "window shop" before you agree to meet someone in person.

Do your kids go off with their dad at all to give you time off? Family close by to babysit?

Well, my standard answer is church or whatever house of worship you could attend. I just don't trust that I'll find someone trustworthy in a random-kind of context. In the very least, a church mate has values close to mine. Otherwise, I would **** up the pride and tell my closest family and thickest friends I would be open to introductions. I know people hate matchmaking too. I just feel as single parents we've all got way too much at stake and too little time to devote to dating than to take a chance on complete and total strangers. Of course, there are no guarantees in anything.

How about at work? I know, some say it is not a good idea. Kind of depends upon the work environment, and the people involved. As long as it isn't a supervisor/employee situation, and if neither of you minds a bit of gossip, it is doable.

Another suggestion is at the playground where your children go, or some sporting event that your kid(s) participate in. You can learn a lot about a potential date's personality by how they interact with their children in such environments.

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Originally posted by rezzi10:
So, I'm curious, How do you start dating again as a single mother? I'm either working all day or being Mom. Does anyone have any advice? I could use it! Now that I feel ready I'm not even sure where to meet men in this new life.

I could've written that myself. I'm in the same boat, I work all day and then by the time I come home I'm being Mom. I don't go out really, none of that. I have tried online dating sites, I guess the biggest problem that I seem to run into though is that I'm a younger mom so at this point it's slim pickings as far as anyone who'd be compatible with my lifestyle being a parent.

Yeah, I've been wondering this myself. I'm not a bar hopper, I don't go to clubs, and I don't know any single men that I'd be interested in dating....I would like to date again too, but I have no idea how, or where to meet people. The only thing I know of is online dating, but I'm so skeptical. I guess mostly 'cause I'm a tight with my (lack of) money, so I hate the idea of paying to meet people that may or may not be psychos. Although, I did meet my ex at church, and he still turned out to be a bit psycho...so you never know.
Does anyone actually know anyone personally that has had a successful relationship that started online?

Funny I am in this position now. I dated a man from my church, and it turned out well. It moved very slowly, and I suppose because of the potential for awkwardness in the event of a breakup, caution was probably a good thing. The evil was actually on my part in that I met someone online through a strange set of circumstances. I was completely opposed to online dating, but in June a friend of mine nagged me to sign up for a one-week trial on some site so she could get an extension on her trial. In that week, I met a man who's become quite serious and I am extremely happy with him. I guess you really never know. So my advice is to try every avenue, keep your eyes wide open and guard your heart.

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Originally posted by backpacker:
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Does anyone actually know anyone personally that has had a successful relationship that started online?

Although I would caution you ....that we are NOT the NORM.... Yes, our relationship DID and IS working...Here's the story if you have time:

Heather and Paul

According to most of the ladies here... you might want to grab some tissues.

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Does anyone actually know anyone personally that has had a successful relationship that started online?

i own a b&b so have literally hundreds of couples here every year. i used to ask everyone "so how did you two meet?" a HUGE number - like a third was online. i've probably had at least 40 couples who met online get engaged while here.

i see zero difference between meeting online or at the store, church, mall, bar, library - whatever. at the end of the day, it is 2 strangers letting thier guards down to see if they click.

good luck!